Alterable / designable shoe

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment, shoe components (which may be assembled to form a shoe) comprise an upper which includes a sock; a lower; and an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the lower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts further embodiments of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts further embodiments of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a right side view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a right side view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a top view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a right side view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a left side view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of an embodiment of a convertible shoe according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preface

Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this patent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of this patent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s).

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s).

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because in an embodiment one step is described after the other step is described). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing or otherwise does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

The enumerated listing of items (which may or may not be numbered or otherwise labeled) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, the enumerated listing of items does not imply that the items are mutually exhaustive or comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that the items are in any way ordered according to the order in which they are enumerated.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including and limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “plurality” mean “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Each process/method includes one or more steps, and therefore a reference to a “step” of a method has an inherent antecedent basis.

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is (unless expressly specified otherwise) used merely to indicate a particular element, such as to distinguish it from another element that likewise is described by the same term or by a similar term. In other words, the use of such an ordinal number is not limiting and serves only to distinguish, denominate, designate or specify.

For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a “second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article if appropriate. Accordingly, if a claim recites a single device/article (e.g., as an element of that claim), that claim is intended to encompass a product which includes more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) that otherwise meet all of the limitations of the single device/article.

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article if appropriate. Accordingly, even if an embodiment includes a plurality of elements which are each modified by ordinal numbers (e.g., an embodiment includes a “first widget” and a “second widget”), a single device/article may be used in place of the “first widget” and the “second widget”, if appropriate. Thus, if a claim recites more than one device/article (e.g., as elements of that claim), that claim is intended to encompass a product which includes a single device/article that otherwise meet all of the limitations of the devices/articles that the claim recites.

The functionality and/or the features of a component may be alternatively embodied by one or more other component which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the component itself.

Introduction

Many techniques exist for making and using convertible shoes. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,267,650; 4,377,042; 4,745,693; 5,317,822; 5,983,528; and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002 0029494 and 2002 0178613 are each incorporated herein by reference as part of the present disclosure. Many of the embodiments disclosed in the present patent application can make use of many of the convertible shoes and related techniques which are disclosed in the references that are incorporated herein by reference, and which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and thus need not be repeated explicitly herein.

According to one embodiment, shoe components (which can be used to compose a convertible shoe) comprise an upper; a lower; and an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the lower. The attaching means may be implemented in many ways. For example, the attaching means may include a zipper, such as a coated and/or removable zipper that could fasten the upper to the lower in a well-known manner. The attaching means may include a burr fastener, such as one formed from Velcro®. The attaching means may include a part of a zipper, such as one of two rows of zipper teeth. Thus, attaching means may include the entire zipper, or a portion thereof.

The attaching means may be integrated with the upper, with the lower or with both the upper and the lower. For example, a zipper may which functions as the attaching means may include a first row of teeth (e.g., metal, plastic, or nylon teeth) on an edge of the upper and a second row of teeth on an edge of the lower. When the sliding tab of the zipper interlocks the teeth of the two rows, the upper and lower are attached together. In one embodiment, each row of teeth circumnavigates the entire edge of the upper/lower.

In one embodiment, a burr fastener may be fixed to one of the upper and the lower, and then is attached to the other of the upper and lower. For example, a strip (or other shape) of nylon with a surface of minute hooks may be attached to the top of the lower, while the bottom surface of the lower may include a corresponding strip (or other shape) with a surface of uncut pile. Thus the top of the lower may be removably attached to the bottom of the lower.

In one embodiment, the upper may be elastically fastened to the lower. For example, the upper may include elastic material (e.g., neoprene polychloroprene by DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.) which allows the upper to be stretched over the lower and then snugly fasten to the lower.

In one embodiment, the shoe components may (in addition to the attaching means) further include a means for securing the upper and the lower (e.g., to increase the strength of the attachment of the upper and the lower). For example, the means for securing the upper and the lower may include a member which is fixed to the lower and which is removably attachable to a surface of the upper. In one embodiment, such a member includes (1) an end which is fixed to approximately a middle portion of the lower, and (2) another end which comprises a burr fastener, such as Velcro® material, allowing that end to be attached to at least a portion of the surface of the upper.

The means for securing the upper and the lower may include a band which is attached to the lower and removably attachable to the upper. For example, Velcro® (e.g., a surface of hooks) may be disposed on at least a part of a surface of the band, allowing the band to be removably attached to the upper (e.g., a surface of burrs).

As is known, the lower typically comprises a sole, which may be formed from a variety of materials. For example, the sole may be at least partially composed of rubber, EVA (Ethylvinyl acetate) or the like.

It will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the uppers may be formed from a variety of materials. For example, each upper may be at least partially composed of neoprene.

Kits

An alterable shoe and/or components thereof, such as the various types of convertible shoes described and referred to above, may be advantageously sold in many forms. For example, one form which may be advantageously sold as a kit that comprises a plurality of uppers (e.g., three uppers in a kit, four uppers in a kit). Selling a plurality of uppers together can be advantageous for many reasons, e.g., aesthetics, fashion may make owning a plurality of uppers desirable by allowing a plurality of different appearances to a shoe, while only requiring the purchase of less than the same number of lowers.

In fact, it can be highly advantageous to provide a kit of uppers in which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment to the same lower. Thus, for example, each of the uppers could be used with a single lower, allowing, e.g., a plurality of different appearances of the assembled shoe.

The plurality of uppers may be the same or different. For example, each of the uppers, even if adapted for attachment to the same lower, could be of the same general shape or different shape. Similarly, each of the uppers (whether or not all the same shape) could be adorned or adornable with a design. In one embodiment, each of the uppers could be adorned with a design that is different from the design of any of the other uppers. Thus, the kit containing the uppers could allow for a variety of designs which can add variety, be aesthetically pleasing, and confer other advantages.

In one embodiment, each of the uppers of a kit is adorned with a design that is different from the design of any of the other uppers. For example, each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different animated character (e.g., Disney® characters, specific Disney® princesses, characters of a superhero team or other team), a different sports team (e.g., teams from a certain sport, teams form a certain geographic area), a different car (e.g., different racing cars/colors of a particular driver), a different flag (e.g., international flags).

Each of the uppers may comprise a respective attaching means for selectively attaching and detaching the respective upper to the lower.

In one embodiment, the plurality of uppers can be contained within the package. The package may include a transparent or semitransparent material, such that at least one of the plurality of uppers contained within the package is visible from outside the package. This can advantageously increase the marketing appeal of the kit.

The kit may also include at least one lower to which one or more of the uppers are adapted for attachment. In one embodiment, the kit includes one or more lowers to which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment. If the uppers are contained within a package, then preferably such lower(s) are contained within the package as well.

In one embodiment, a kit includes one or more uppers as well as at least one customization component. The customization component allows the upper to be customized, e.g., according to the preferences of the purchaser of the kit. The at least one customization component may include (i) one or more markers (e.g., felt-tipped pen, a Magic Marker® pen) or other drawing/coloring instruments (e.g., pencil, chalk, crayon); (ii) one or more means for fastening an item to the upper (e.g., glue, pin, brad); (iii) one or more means for gluing an item to the upper (e.g., glue stick, glue bottle, glue applicator); and/or (iv) one or more items to attach to the upper (e.g., ornament, imitation jewel, glitter, decal, sticker).

A kit may be made specific to gender and/or age group. For example, the kit may include customization components such as decals/stickers/items with certain themes (sports, film characters, music groups) that appeal to certain groups.

In one embodiment, all of the uppers in a kit are unadorned, providing a “blank slate” to design upon.

As described above, such a kit may include a lower, and an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the lower. Such a kit may be included in a package, as described above.

In one embodiment, a kit includes one or more shoes (e.g., a canvas shoe) as well as at least one customization component. Customization components are described above.

In one embodiment, one or more of the shoes in a kit are unadorned, providing a “blank slate” to design upon.

Such a kit may likewise be included in a package as described above.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment 100 of a convertible shoe includes an upper 105, a lower 110, an attaching means 115 (specifically a zipper in FIG. 1) for removably attaching the upper and the lower, and means 120 for securing the upper and the lower (specifically a Velcro® closure and plastic tab 125 secured to the lower).

An embodiment 180 of such a zipper includes a coated zipper in which the zipper tape is coated and conceals the zipper teeth, in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Reference numeral 150 indicates an exploded view of the embodiment 100.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a shoe similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, but with a traditional outsole and in which the upper is not removable from the lower. Reference numeral 300 depicts a side plan view and reference numeral 350 depicts a top-down view.

Sock

In an embodiment, the upper includes a sock, stocking or slipper, such as an aqua sock, or an aqua sock without a corresponding plastic sole. In such an embodiment, the upper may be worn without the lower. Thus, a person may choose to wear the upper alone (e.g., as a sock or slipper) or may attach the lower to the upper to wear as a shoe.

The sock may be formed from any of a number of materials. For example, the sock may be formed (either completely or partially) from foam textile, neoprene, or polyurethane sprayed onto a knitted textile. The bottom of the sock may include a gripping non-slip material such as a printed foam or like material, and such material may be located on the bottom of the sock in any of a number of patterns, such as a solid patch of any shape, jagged lines, a random pattern or a tread-like pattern. Such material on the bottom of the sock functions as a tread or otherwise imparts friction to the bottom of the sock while it is worn without the lower. Such printed foam is commonly used, e.g., on the bottom of the soles of children's “feet” pajamas.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a convertible shoe includes an upper 200 in the form of a removable sock which may be attached to a lower. The upper 200 is in the form and design of portion of a racing car.

Reference numeral 250 indicates an upper attached to a lower, in which the lower includes “wheels” (e.g., plastic wheels which may be fixed or which may rotate around a pin or other axis) secured to the lower and the outsole is exposed. Thus when the particular upper is attached to the particular lower as depicted by reference numeral 250, the two look like a racing car.

Reference numeral 280 depicts a top-down view of the embodiment depicted by reference numeral 250.

A Method of Manufacturing a Shoe With Sock

One method of manufacturing is described immediately below. Others will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based on the present disclosure. The specific materials and type of shoe described in this method are presented for illustration only, and are not required.

A “last” is created for the desired shoe. A rubber outsole is opened to fit the last, and the outsole includes a groove which permits a zipper to be attached to the outsole. The opening of the outsole allows the outsole to be stretched to allow access by the textile and/or zipper to be placed thereon.

An upper pattern is made according to the last. A zipper is stitched to the outsole by following the groove in the outsole. A strap is stitched onto the sidewall lateral and onto the medium. Such a strap, when closed around the instep, functions to distribute the forces that result when the wearer walks and runs.

The upper is stitched and the other side of the zipper is sewed onto the upper. The inner canvas insole is stitched to the upper. EVA may be put on the outsole for a footbed to make the shoe softer when walking or running. The footbed is the part of the sole that the foot lies directly upon, and may be removable and/or contoured.

In an embodiment, the zipper is placed so that it starts (and when zipped, ends) on the side of the instep where the strap is anchored, and is located close to the anchor point. When the zipper is placed in this manner, the strap (when closed) helps to secure the zipper.

In an embodiment, the zipper is placed so that the unzipping operation first proceeds forward to the front of the shoe, and then around the other side towards the back of the shoe.

It will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the term “shoe” as used herein can refer to numerous types of footwear. The inventive concepts described herein are not limited to the specific types of shoes explicitly described.

It will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various materials may be used in addition to or instead of the specific material explicitly described here. For example, uppers may be made from various materials, such as for example leather, nubuck, synthetic nubuck, suede, fabric, plastics, nylon. As another example, soles may be made from various materials, such as for example compression Molded EVA, microporous Rubber, PU (Polyurethane),

Various Embodiments

A wide variety of embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above. Below many embodiments are described. Some or all of the embodiments described below encompass embodiments described above. Some or all of the embodiments described below may be equivalent to embodiments described above. Each of the embodiments below (in method, apparatus and medium forms) is indicated by a unique number or combination of numbers. Some of the embodiments below refer to other embodiments in this Section 9.

1. Shoe components, comprising

-   -   an upper;     -   a lower; and     -   an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the         lower.

1.1. The shoe components of embodiment 1, in which the attaching means comprises:

-   -   a zipper.

1.1.1 The shoe components of embodiment 1.1, in which the zipper comprises:

-   -   a coated zipper.

1.1.2 The shoe components of embodiment 1.1, in which the zipper comprises:

-   -   a removable zipper.

1.2. The shoe components of embodiment 1, in which the attaching means comprises:

-   -   a burr fastener.

1.2.1 The shoe components of embodiment 1.2, in which the burr fastener comprises Velcro.

1.3 The shoe components of embodiment 1, in which the attaching means is integrated with at least one of the upper and the lower.

1.4 The shoe components of embodiment 1, further comprising:

-   -   means for securing the upper and the lower.

1.4.1 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises:

-   -   a member which is fixed to the lower and which is removably         attachable to a surface of the upper.

1.4.1.1 The show of embodiment 1.4.1, in which an end of the member is fixed to approximately a middle portion of the lower, and in which another end of the member comprises a burr fastener.

1.4.1.2 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4, in which the member is formed at least partially of one of fabric, plastic and nylon.

1.4.2 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises:

-   -   a band attached to the lower and removably attachable to the         upper.

1.4.2.1 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.2, in which Velcro is disposed on at least a part of a surface of the band.

1.4.2.2 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4, in which the band is formed at least partially of one of fabric, plastic and nylon.

1.4.3 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises:

-   -   a strap having two ends,         -   in which one of the ends of the strap is attached to the             lower, and         -   in which the other of the ends of the strap is removably             affixable to the lower.

1.4.3.1 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises:

-   -   a buckle for receiving the other of the ends of the strap.

1.4.3.2 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises:

-   -   a loop for receiving the other of the ends of the strap, whereby         the other of the ends of the strap is frictionally engaged when         wrapped around the loop.

1.4.3.3 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the one of the ends of the strap is attached to a middle portion of a first side of the lower.

1.4.3.4 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the other of the ends of the strap is attached to a middle portion of a side opposite the first side the lower.

1.4.3.5 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the strap is formed at least partially of one of fabric, plastic and nylon.

1.4.3.9 The shoe components of embodiment 1.4.3, in which the other of the ends of the strap is removably affixable to the lower at a location on the lower such that the strap passes over an instep portion of the upper when the upper and the lower are attached.

2. A kit comprising:

-   -   a plurality of uppers.

3. A kit comprising:

-   -   a package; and     -   a plurality of uppers contained within the package.

3.1 The kit of embodiment 3, in which the package includes a transparent material such that at least some of the plurality of uppers contained within the package are visible from outside the package.

3.2 The kit of embodiment 3, in which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment to a specific lower.

3.2.1 The kit of embodiment 3.2, in which each upper comprises a respective attaching means for selectively attaching and detaching the respective upper to the lower.

3.2.2 The kit of embodiment 3.2, in which each upper is adorned with a design.

3.2.2.1 The kit of embodiment 3.2.2, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design different from the design of any of the other uppers.

3.3. The kit of embodiment 3, further comprising:

-   -   at least one lower to which each of the uppers is adapted for         attachment, in which the at least one lower is contained within         the package.

3.3.1. The kit of embodiment 3, in which the lower comprises:

-   -   a sole which is at least partially composed of rubber.

3.3.2. The kit of embodiment 3, in which the lower comprises:

-   -   a sole which is at least partially composed of EVA.

3.4 The kit of embodiment 3, in which each upper is at least partially composed of neoprene.

3.5 The kit of embodiment 3, in which each upper is adorned with a design.

3.5.1 The kit of embodiment 3.5, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design different from the design of any of the other uppers.

3.5.1.1 The kit of embodiment 3.5.1, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different animated character.

3.5.1.1 The kit of embodiment 3.5.1, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different animated character.

3.5.1.2 The kit of embodiment 3.5.1, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different sports team.

3.5.1.3 The kit of embodiment 3.5.1, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different car.

3.5.1.4 The kit of embodiment 3.5.1, in which each of the uppers is adorned with a design of a different flag.

3.6 The kit of embodiment 3, further comprising: a plurality of different lowers, and in which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment to each of the plurality of different lowers.

3.7 The kit of embodiment 3, in which the plurality of uppers comprises three uppers.

3.8 The kit of embodiment 3, in which the plurality of uppers comprises four uppers.

4. A kit comprising

-   -   an upper; and     -   at least one customization component.

4.1 The kit of embodiment 4, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a marker.

4.2 The kit of embodiment 4, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a means for fastening an item to the upper.

4.3 The kit of embodiment 4, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a means for gluing an item to the upper.

4.4 The kit of embodiment 4, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   an item to attach to the upper.

4.4.1 The kit of embodiment 4.4, in which the item to attach to the upper comprises:

-   -   an ornament.

4.4.2 The kit of embodiment 4.4, in which the item to attach to the upper comprises:

-   -   an imitation jewel.

4.4.3 The kit of embodiment 4.4, in which the item to attach to the upper comprises:

-   -   glitter.

4.4.4 The kit of embodiment 4.4, in which the item to attach to the upper comprises:

-   -   a decal.

4.5 The kit of embodiment 4, further comprising:

-   -   a lower.

4.5.1 The kit of embodiment 4.5, further comprising:

-   -   an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the         lower.

4.6 The kit of embodiment 4, further comprising:

-   -   a package which contains the upper and the at least one         customization component.

4.6.1 The kit of embodiment 4.6, in which the package includes a transparent material such that at least one of the upper and the customization component contained within the package are visible from outside the package.

4.7 The kit of embodiment 4, in which the upper is unadorned.

5. A kit comprising

-   -   a shoe; and     -   at least one customization component.

5.1 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a marker.

5.2 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a means for fastening an item to the shoe.

5.3 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   a means for gluing an item to the shoe.

5.41 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the at least one customization component comprises:

-   -   an item to attach to the shoe.

5.4.1 The kit of embodiment 5.4, in which the item to attach to the shoe comprises:

-   -   an ornament.

5.4.2 The kit of embodiment 5.4, in which the item to attach to the shoe comprises:

-   -   an imitation jewel.

5.4.3 The kit of embodiment 5.4, in which the item to attach to the shoe comprises:

-   -   glitter.

5.4.4 The kit of embodiment 5.4, in which the item to attach to the shoe comprises:

-   -   a decal.

5.5 The kit of embodiment 5, further comprising:

-   -   a package which contains the shoe and the at least one         customization component.

5.5.1 The kit of embodiment 5.5, in which the package includes a transparent material such that at least one of the shoe and the customization component contained within the package are visible from outside the package.

5.7 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the shoe is unadorned.

5.8 The kit of embodiment 5, in which the shoe comprises canvas. 

1. Shoe components, comprising an upper which includes a sock; a lower; and an attaching means for removably attaching the upper and the lower.
 2. The shoe components of claim 1, in which the sock is formed at least partially from neoprene.
 3. The shoe components of claim 1, in which a bottom of the sock includes a gripping non-slip material.
 4. The shoe components of claim 3, in which a bottom of the sock includes a gripping non-slip material in a tread pattern.
 5. The shoe components of claim 1, in which the attaching means comprises: a zipper.
 6. The shoe components of claim 1, further comprising: means for securing the upper and the lower.
 7. A kit comprising: a package; and a plurality of uppers contained within the package.
 8. The kit of claim 7, in which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment to a specific lower.
 9. The kit of claim 8, in which each upper comprises a respective attaching means for selectively attaching and detaching the respective upper to the lower.
 10. The kit of claim 7, further comprising: at least one lower to which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment, in which the at least one lower is contained within the package.
 11. The kit of claim 10, in which the lower comprises: a sole which is at least partially composed of rubber.
 12. The kit of claim 10, in which the lower comprises: a sole which is at least partially composed of EVA.
 13. The kit of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of different lowers, and in which each of the uppers is adapted for attachment to each of the plurality of different lowers.
 14. The kit of claim 7, in which the plurality of uppers comprises three uppers.
 15. The kit of claim 7, in which at least one of the uppers includes a sock.
 16. Shoe components, comprising an upper which includes a sock formed at least partially from neoprene, in which a bottom of the sock includes a gripping non-slip material; a lower which includes a rubber sole; a zipper for removably attaching the upper and the lower; and means for securing the upper and the lower.
 17. The shoe components of claim 16, in which a row of teeth of the zipper is attached to the upper, and in which another row of teeth of the zipper is attached to the lower.
 18. The shoe components of claim 16, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises: a strap having two ends, in which one of the ends of the strap is attached to the lower, and in which the other of the ends of the strap is removably affixable to the lower.
 19. The shoe components of claim 18, in which the means for securing the upper and the lower comprises: a loop for receiving the other of the ends of the strap, whereby the other of the ends of the strap is frictionally engaged when wrapped around the loop.
 20. The shoe components of claim 18, in which the one of the ends of the strap is attached to a middle portion of a first side of the lower; and the other of the ends of the strap is attached to a middle portion of a side opposite the first side the lower. 